Erysimum plant named ‘Bowles Me Away’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Erysimum  plant named ‘Bowles Me Away’, characterized by its medium lavender-colored flowers, dark grey-green colored foliage, low growth vigor, and compact-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Erysimum linifolium.

Variety denomination: ‘Bowles Me Away’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Erysimum plant botanically known as Erysimum linifolium and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Bowles Me Away’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Guadalupe, Calif. during October 2010. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Erysimum cultivars that flower without vernalization and continue to flower through summer heat conditions.

The new Erysimum cultivar is the result of open-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is ‘Bowles' Mauve’, not patented, characterized by its medium lavender-colored flowers, medium grey-green colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is unknown. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated open-pollination during July 2011 in a controlled environment in Guadalupe, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since July 2011 in Guadalupe, Calif. and Elburn, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Bowles Me Away’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Erysimum plant:

-   -   1. Medium lavender-colored flowers;     -   2. Dark grey-green colored foliage;     -   3. Low growth vigor; and     -   4. Compact-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in flowering without vernalization and in having reduced growth vigor with a compact growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Erysimum cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is Cheers Mighty Mauve ‘Balchermauv’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,604. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balchermauv’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are taller when grown under field         conditions than plants of ‘Balchermauv’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have growth habit that is more         mounded and less upright than plants of ‘Balchermauv’; and     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have darker colored foliage than         plants of ‘Balchermauv’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical inflorescence and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Bowles Me Away’. The plants were grown in one-gallon containers for approximately seven months in a glass-covered greenhouse in Elburn, Ill. Plants were given one pinch before and one pinch after transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Bowles Me Away’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Bowles Me Away’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in April 2017 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown utilizing a soilless growth medium in one-gallon containers for approximately seven months in Elburn, Ill. Plants were transplanted in late fall from rooted cuttings and were given one pinch before and one pinch after transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained during the winter months at approximately 45° F. to 65° F. (7.2° C. to 18.3° C.) during the day and approximately 35° F. to 45° F. (1.7° C. to 7.2° C.) during the night. For the final 12 weeks, greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 65° F. to 70° F. (18.3° C. to 21.1° C.) during the day and approximately 55° F. to 60° F. (12.8° C. to 15.6° C.) during the night. No supplemental lighting was provided. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Erysimum linifolium cultivar Bowles Me     Away. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—‘Bowles' Mauve’, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Unknown. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 10 to 12 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 42 to 49             days.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 10 to 12 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Perennial, moderately             vigorous, mounded-upright growth habit.         -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 6a (−10° F. to −5° F./−23.3° C. to             −20.6° C.).         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 37.0 cm. Width: Approximately 33.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Pinching improves basal branching. Quantity             of main branches per plant: Approximately 8.         -   Branch.—Shape: Ribbed. Strength: Strong. Length to base of             inflorescence: Approximately 12.0 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 4.0 mm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with             appressed hairs. Color of young and mature stems: Closest to             146B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 14. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Alternate in a spiral.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular or acute angle to stem, tip             downward turning with age. Shape: Oblanceolate. Margin:             Dentate to entire, slightly undulate. Apex: Acute. Base:             Attenuate, sessile. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of             mature leaf: Approximately 10.0 cm. Width of mature leaf:             Approximately 1.4 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Densely pubescent with appressed hairs. Color of upper             surface of young foliage: Closest to 137A with midvein of             146D, other venation indistinguishable. Color of lower             surface of young foliage: Closest to 137B with midvein of             146C, other venation indistinguishable. Color of upper             surface of mature foliage: Closest to 137A with 139A,             midvein of 146D, other venation indistinguishable,             pubescence gives the mature foliage a grey-green appearance.             Color of lower surface of mature foliage: Closest to NN137B             with midvein of 146C, other venation indistinguishable. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Bowles Me Away’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from early spring through autumn.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             6 to 8 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Terminal raceme. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 10. Fragrance: Slight, sweet. Length or             height: Approximately 16.0 cm. Width: Approximately 5.0 cm.             Quantity of fully open flowers per inflorescence:             Approximately 11. -   Flower description:     -   -   Type.—Solitary, self-cleaning.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 4 to 5 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Ovoid and slightly             flattened. Length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Diameter:             Approximately 4.0 mm. Color: Calyx of 137B with base of 145B             and an overlay of 187A; petals of N82C.         -   Corolla.—Shape: Lobes cruciform with claws surrounded by             calyx. Aspect: Facing upward and outward. Diameter:             Approximately 2.1 cm. Depth: Approximately 1.6 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 4. Shape: Obovate. Margin: Entire,             slightly undulate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Length of             lobes: Approximately 9.0 mm. Width of lobes: Approximately             8.0 mm. Length of claws: Approximately 8.0 mm. Width of             claws at widest point: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of             upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper surface             of lobes when first open: Closest to but lighter than N82D.             Color of lower surface of lobes when first open: 85C. Color             of upper surface of lobes when fully open: N82C, transitions             to N82B with senescence. Color of lower surface of lobes             when fully open: N82D, transitions to N82C with senescence.             Color of upper and lower surfaces of claws: NN155A with a             midvein of 145A.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Tubular. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 4, distinct. Shape: Lanceolate.             Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Length: Approximately 8.0 mm.             Width: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of inner surface:             Glabrous. Texture of outer surface: Moderately pubescent             with appressed hairs. Color of inner surface: 137A with base             of 145A. Color of outer surface: 137B with base of 145B and             an overlay of 187A.         -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Acute angle to stem.             Length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately             1.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with appressed hairs.             Color: 137C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 6 per             flower. Stamen length: Approximately 1.0 cm, 1 pair slightly             shorter and inserted lower. Filament texture: Glabrous.             Filament color: 145D. Anther shape: Sagittate, dorsifixed.             Anther length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther color: 4D.             Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: 4D. Gynoecium: Pistil             quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 9.0 mm.             Stigma shape: Bifid. Stigma length: Approximately 1.0 mm.             Stigma color: 151D. Style length: Approximately 2.0 mm.             Style color: 144A. Ovary length: Approximately 6.0 mm. Ovary             width: Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary texture: Densely             pubescent with appressed hairs. Ovary color: 144A, appears             lighter colored due to pubescence. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Erysimum has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Erysimum plant named ‘Bowles Me Away’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 